This Way for a Shroud

"She's an accessory after the fact!" McCann said, controlling his temper with an effort. "And there's nothing either of you can say that'll make her anything else!"

"Oh, skip it," Conrad said impatiently. "Let's go up and talk to her. We want Maurer, and this girl can give us Maurer. That's all there is to it. So get off your high horse and calm down."

For a moment he thought McCann was going to take a swing at him, but McCann managed to control himself.

"Okay," he said, biting off each word. "Let's get at her!"

The three men went up the stairs to Frances's room.

They found Frances, white-faced with dark shadows under her eyes, standing by the window. Madge Fielding was with her.

"Miss Coleman, this is the District Attorney," Conrad said, "and this is PoliceCaptain McCann. They have come to hear your story. Gentlemen, this is Miss Coleman."

Forest came over and smiled at Frances.

"Sit down, Miss Coleman," he said. "I'm glad you're going to help us. I want you to know I fully understand why you have hesitated to give us a statement before now, and I want you to know we shall do our best to protect you against publicity or any unpleasant consequences that may follow a trial."

Frances didn't meet his eyes.

"Thank you," she said, and sat down.

"You have no objection if your statement is taken down in writing?" Forest went on.

"Oh, no. I – I want it in writing."

Conrad made a sign to Madge, who went over to the table, sat down, and opened a notebook she had ready.

"Go ahead," Forest said to Conrad. "You handle it."

Conrad came over to Frances.

"Just to get the record straight. Miss Coleman. You are Frances Coleman, and you have no fixed address at the moment, is that right?"

Frances looked up at him.

"Yes."

"On the 9th of this month you went to see June Arnot?"

"Yes."

"Why did you go and see her?"

"I was out of work," Frances said, twisting her hands in her lap. I hadn't any money. I once worked with Miss Arnot. I had a small part in one of her films. She was about to make another picture so I went to ask her if she could find a part for me."

"And did she see you?"

"Yes."

"What time did you arrive at Dead End?"

"It was a little before seven: about ten minutes to seven."

"The guard sent you up to the house?"

"No. He phoned through to the house and they told him Miss Arnot was in the swimming-pool. He phoned through there, and Miss Arnot said I was to join her at the pool."

"And did you?"

"Yes. It was a long walk from the gates, and it was a very hot evening. Miss Arnot saw how hot I was and she told me to have a swim first. She was in the pool, and she swam to the edge when she saw me. She said I'd find a costume in the changing room and I was to come into the pool."

"And did you?"

"I – I didn't have time to get to the pool. I went to the changing room and began to undress, then I heard Miss Arnot call out as if she were greeting someone."

"What did you do?"

"I was undressed by this time. I didn't do anything. I stayed in the dressing room, trying to find the costume Miss Arnot said was in one of the cupboards."

"While you were looking for the costume, did you hear anything?"

Frances gave a little shiver.

"Yes. I heard a shot; it sounded some way off. Then after a minute or so, five or six more shots."

"What did you do?"

"I stood listening, then I heard Miss Arnot scream out. It was a horrible sound. I grabbed up my dress and holding it to me I ran to the door of the changing room."

"And did you see anything?"

Frances nodded. Her face was now white and strained.

"What did you see?"

"Miss Arnot was lying on the ground, near the pool, and a short, thick-set man in a black suit was bending over her. He wrenched off her swim-suit. In his right hand he was holding a knife: it was a broad-bladed thing, and it glittered in the sunshine. Miss Arnot seemed partially stunned. She was feebly trying to push his hand away. Before I could do anything, he – he stabbed her."

"Did you cry out? Did you let him know you were there?"

Frances shook her head.

"Oh, no. I knew he had killed her. No one could have lived after the awful wound he gave her. It was horrible!" She looked away, her lips trembling. "I was paralysed with fear. I couldn't move or make a sound. He straightened up and kicked her as she lay dying on the ground. I saw his face. I'll never forget it. He

looked like a wild beast."

Conrad took a packet of photographs from his pocket.

"Will you look through these and see if you can recognize the man who killed Miss Arnot?"

Her hands shaking, Frances took the photographs. She had only to turn two over before she found the picture of Maurer. She handed it to Conrad.

"This man."

"All right," Conrad put the photographs down. What happened next, Miss Coleman?"

"Another man joined him, and they both stood over Miss Arnot. I was terrified. I hid in a shower cabinet."

"I would like to establish this other man's identity," Conrad said. "Would you look at those photographs again and see if you can recognize him?"